2560. “Everybody wants to eat me.”

Global Game Jam – Manila Chapter

January 28-30, 2011 ♥  ITTC, UP Diliman

In the spirit of trying out everything in life because I have no particular life direction or whatsoever, I have decided to partake of the yearly Global Game Jam. Global Game Jam encourages people to be creative, with live feeds from all over the world, attempting to synchronize the whole process. It’s a chance to meet the people from the industry and other enthusiasts, hobbyists and game developers. Plus you don’t have to be tech-y to be a “jammer”, writers, artists, musicians and anyone willing to open their hearts to creating and materializing games are welcome.

Pre-registrations are hosted by IGDA – Manila, plus they also hold Monthly talks/meet ups and get togethers. You could join their groups over on Facebook. You can find my name in the list over here (oh, who’s the one beside me).

I came in late during the first day (it started at 4, I woke up at 4 and I live in the South) ended up arriving at around 8 when they were brainstorming, which explains why I’m participant no. 38! I got to talk to awesome people with awesome game ideas. I kinda stuck around my own flock (shame, and I told myself I was off to meet new friends) and we ended up deciding on collaborating/merging our game ideas.

Well, this is what my game title is. I started cramming Day 2 because I arrived 2PM. Everyone was in full swing, given a fact that there’s a high school kid here who’s going solo (so I heard and last year, he, I presume, produced his own fighting game– BY HIMSELF! Talk about Lordom!) and here I was struggling with the truckload of work I gave myself *face palm* but with constant pressures from Andrew (that he isn’t doing anything because I ain’t giving him anything), I drew away.

It was almost seven and I got hungry. But the moment I spent half my cash (I’m that poor!) on junk foods, the dinner came in. And oooh! With the stress of needing to finish everything (storyboard, character animations, level design, blaah!, music(?)), I succumb to sugar rush.

The guy pressuring me.

Things I fell in love with: This Canon Scanner. That I need to get my hands on. (I buzzed my Mom on Yahoo Messenger to get me one because that’s how much I love it)

And having random conversations with Miko!

I managed to gulp down 3 bars of Cloud Nine and a decent dinner (read: Bicol Express + half rice + iced tea) and here I was looking perky!

But I wasn’t perky, because after dinner, things went slow. I did the user interface for our other team’s half and I saw the immense amount of frames I had to do (because my game was story based). I was about to give up. Without a person to pressure me (also known as Andrew, he went home around 11pm), I resorted to tweeting, tumbling, chatting and internet surfing.

But when everyone was asleep, and they turned down the temperature (I couldn’t reach either the buttons or the plug), I went back to work. A cup of two packs of caffeine (and I rarely drink coffee, I prefer hot chocolate) and 3 hours later, I managed to skillfully (lol Gwen, now really?) draw, group my storyboards and arrange them in a neat directory. It’s 4:39 right now. And I think I did a good job with Stars Go Dim on repeat on my iTunes. I didn’t change pajamas though, and I have to sign up for the shower schedule later (yes, I’m still inside UP Campus! Isn’t it awesome?!)

I’ll post a video of our games later.

I did the user interface, credits for the other game of our group. And I did all the crappy doodle work on our half. All I could say is our games have planktons and unicorns. But that’s all! (considering all of them [the groupmates] are guys )

I remember Ross Delantar telling me that “you have to have fun when you’re making the game, if you’re not having fun, who will“. And that a game must focus on one aspect and do well on that, I think I did well on story telling. If you ask me about my game, I bet you’d smile. Because I really love my game. We’re not friends if you won’t even smirk while I tell you all about it. F*ck you, friendship over. Maybe I have a shot at being a designer #delusional!

I will add in music later by venturing through out on YouTube-or-the-intornetz for license free music that would suit the story but all’s turning up well. Andrew said he’d be here by six. Let’s see. I hope we finish before three. I still have to do the User Manual and Publicity stuff. Yikes!

I’m really starting to hate cramming.

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